I M P U L S E S 4/2018 for Daily Living Foto: A. M. Jäger A. M. Foto: Father Joseph Kentenich- one who lived out of joy Secretariat Father Joseph Kentenich Father Joseph Kentenich- one who lived out of joy Joy in the midst of joylessness news. Instinctively we ask ourselves: Almost as if written on his face, From what sources did he draw so that Father Kentenich consistently the harshness of life couldn’t rob him reflected serenity, cheerfulness, and of his inner joy? joy. This inner attitude attracted many people. How was it that he radiated so Joy gives wings to the soul much joy, even in difficult times and He placed great emphasis on the situations – a joy that could be so cultivation of joy. It is an “elixir of contagious? A co-prisoner told about life“, wonderfully suited and necessary the difficult years in the Dachau for the “cultivation of the spirit”, that concentration camp: “Seldom in life is, for the nurturing of love, of the did I laugh as heartily as on Sunday religious and ethical values of people. afternoons when we, although it was Wherever he could, he suggested that forbidden, met with him in the sick we enjoy and treat ourselves and bay.” With a glow in his eyes, Father others. He encouraged rest, happy Kentenich walked through the camp, relaxation, and play. “as if all this could not harm him.” Even during his exile, this radiance Father Kentenich practiced the did not fade. Photos show him with a pedagogy of joy because, like Don radiant face just moments after he had Bosco, he recognized the value of received very painful, even crushing, “whatever joy is doing to a person” and that protects genuine, healthy relaxation from substitute addictions and dangerous recreational areas, especially those for children and adolescents. He was convinced: Those who find much joy in the family will not be looking for it in the wrong place. He simply knew that “people cannot live without joy”. His talks often included humorous passing comments so that the listeners often burst into resounding laughter. He was always up for a little joke. Already at the minor seminary in Schoenstatt where he became the Spiritual Director in a very delicate and tension-laden situation, he began his first talk with several humorous anecdotes. Wherever possible, he tried to lighten the mood, and he was often successful in transforming the sad distraught mood of the other person a good cup of coffee. Perhaps it’s the to joy. He was able to create a joyful, friendly wave allowing me to merge cheerful atmosphere with just a few into the needed lane between cars in clarifying words. He knew how heavy traffic, or the door that important it is that Christians someone holds open for me, or a “always spread a unique, joyful, loving greeting, an unexpected phone happy atmosphere where others call, or any other sign that someone would feel well.” thought of me or prayed for me. It’s the thousand little things that we so For Father Kentenich, natural and easily overlook in the expectation of spiritual joys were an elemental great joys in everyday life, little prerequisite for becoming holy. things that didn’t escaped Father Saints have always been joyful Kentenich, however, and for which persons: The words of St. Francis de he repeatedly expressed his heartfelt Sales, “A sad saint is a sorry saint” gratitude. was often quoted by him. Precisely his attitude of gratitude was As pastor of the German community a source of joy that constantly filled in Milwaukee, he encouraged his heart. No service given him was relaxation, such as dances and a too little so that he wouldn’t have joyful community at parish festivals. thanked for it. He inspired others to It was a joy for all when he initiated do the same: not to overlook the little a church choir. He stressed the messengers of God’s love. significance of joy and cheerfulness for community and family life. “Joy “These are great persons who bless with one another next to the the world: real joyful children who Sacrament of the Altar is the most live down to earth, who are joyful, important thing for community life”. serene, and outwardly cheerful and He explained to parents from the kind.” J. Kentenich family circle in Milwaukee: “If we cannot be relaxed and play with our Sr. Dr. M. Doria Schlickmann children then we also cannot speak with God.” One could learn from him. Mastering joy in small things As educator Father Kentenich taught the art to enjoy the little things in life and to be grateful for them. He encouraged and pointed out, “We always have opportunities to rejoice.” “If you do not scorn little joys, you will never lack them.” Perhaps they are the first rays of sunshine, the singing of the birds, waking up in the early morning, newly strengthened, the fragrance of and the interwovenness of destiny of Always Only God the members of our family.” With this, the Schoenstatt family was Parts 1-4 tell the early founding irrevocably directed to supernature, history of Schoenstatt, the first to God and his will. The unity of difficulties from Church authorities destiny and life between founder and the persecution by National and his followers, the father of the Socialism until the incarceration of family, initiated in God, was raised the founder in Koblenz. The situation to consciousness in its entire escalated more and more. significance. The founder placed his personal fate and the fate of the God tested the founder and gave work completely into the hands of him an opportunity for a free God. … He wrote: “Freedom is the decision. In mid-January of 1942 the most valuable possession of human news arrived that the prisoner had to beings. I offer this freedom with count on being transported to a sincere, glowing love so that the concentration camp. That was, dear God will give the spirit of this according to human measures, inner freedom of the children of considering his age and weak health, God forever -for this I am prepared a sure way to certain death. Persons to bear the chains of imprisonment.” in Schoenstatt succeeded in finding The most loyal ones understood the a way that possibly would lead to founder and were ready to go with freedom. But the founder hesitated him, that is, through a life of total and considered the pros and cons. surrender to make the effort to fight He knew how painful it was for his for this inner freedom and thus to followers when he did not use the win the release from the external opportunity; he was aware that his chains of imprisonment in this work and his mission that God had manner. given him were still incomplete. He knew, humanly speaking it was January 20th became a milestone of madness not to use the way that decisive significance in the life of the perhaps could spare him from being founder and his foundation so that the sent to the concentration camp. In future development cannot be prayer and by celebrating holy Mass understood without it. he struggled to make the right decision. Then his decision was On March 11, 1942, the time had firm: to stake everything on one come: The transportation to Dachau card: If freedom, then only through began in an uncomfortable prisoner- supernatural means, through the railroad-car. Father Kentenich felt prayers and sacrifices of all whom very deeply the triumph of evil in the God had entrusted to him. Thus the camp of shame. But he did not momentous decision was made on become restless, nor bitter, or January 20, 1942: The founder went desperate. In the midst of “the city of voluntarily to Dachau. He wrote to slaves, fools and death” he sought Father Menningen, one of his God and found him, and he made an closest co-workers: effort to create a colony of heaven. A co-prisoner reported in concealed “Please, understand the answer out language: “There is a rock in the of faith in the reality of supernature midst of this stream; the waters cannot harm it … Clouds never hide the peak of this rock. He sees stars during the day in brilliant sunshine, and the sun does not set for him during the night. His thoughts are united with the plans of Eternal Wisdom, and his eyes are only open for hearts. But his heart has left mortality long ago: It has become love for all who give themselves to him. ...” We can hardly estimate what Father Kentenich meant for many prisoners, for priests and lay persons, for Catholics and non-Catholics, even for Communists in the hell of Dachau. In clogs and prisoner clothing, in inhuman conditions and an existential Neuenhofer J. Foto: situation of distress that is aimed at destroying personality and human that is not all. The founder was also sympathy he remained the active in the camp; he preached personality, the founder, the father sermons and gave talks in the and leader. So, he was a sign of hope evening, fostered community for all for his surrounding, and sometimes who were interested in Schoenstatt, also a sign of contradiction. The conducted schoolings and former Reichstags deputy Joos conferences and continued to build up remarked in his Dachau book, Life Schoenstatt. On July 16, 1942 - still a Until Further Notice, that Father prisoner at the admissions block – he Kentenich, by the way he was, had to founded the Institute of the be “very attractive or repelling as is Schoenstatt Families and of the true of all men of absolute faith.” As Schoenstatt Marian Brothers.